Author Archives: blogger331

Why a Type 1 Personality Wins Over a Type X

brainHave you ever taken a test to describe your personality type? I have taken several along my career path and have always found the results interesting. How do my responses determine how my brain is wired?  The most recent personality assessment put me in the “objective thinker” and conscientious categories.  Though I would have loved to come up as “results oriented” I feel pretty good about being known as someone who can make clear decisions independent of peer bias (totally me!) and follows through on promises made.

Dan Pink’s book “Drive…The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us” is chock full of information on what inspires people to be at their best. It is a great read and now I am following him on Twitter and FB.  In Drive, Dan describes two personality types – TYPE 1 and TYPE X – and after completing a cool 10 minute online survey, you can see where you fit.

So what is a TYPE 1?  These are people who are driven by inner rewards or intrinsic goals. If you are in this group, you are inspired more by an inner sense of fulfillment than by external incentives and rewards. TYPE X people are energized by outside forces or acknowledged recognition won by their actions.  The wealthy Donald Trump is a TYPE X – driven by the growth of his organizations, value, societal contributions, hotels etc. Mozart was a TYPE 1.  We all have qualities of both but tend to lean more in one direction over the other.

Take the quiz to see where you fall http://www.danpink.com/drive-survey/

It is definitely not the case that one type is better than the other.  That is a point Dan makes clear.  What he does do is provide reasons why being driven by our inner desires leads to a happier life in the long run. Type 1’s feel happy when they do things that have an enduring effect on their lives.  They aren’t  looking for applause or recognition.  Their achievement comes from doing things that will have a lasting effect on them and those they love. This doesn’t mean that they would turn a promotion or raise away.  Their happiness is fueled by living out their sense of personal purpose in life. In contrast, TYPE Xs are motivated by seeing their actions result in external rewards…their businesses flourish and their talents are well-known (Simon Cowell is another TYPE X).

The carrot however in being a TYPE 1 according to research, is that TYPE 1s have higher self-esteem, better interpersonal relationships and a greater sense of well-being than those who are externally motivated.

If after you take the quiz, discover your TYPE X personality and want to be more like a TYPE 1 – you can learn how…but you’ll have to read Dan’s book!  I came across it at the library (I love the library 🙂

P.S.  I came back as mostly a TYPE 1 – I think that is about right

Dan PInk

The One Thing Time Cannot Change…

Hello Readers…
It has been a few months since I Family-Quotes1have written a new post.  Sorry for the lull, and thanks to those who commented on past posts.Things have been enormously busy here on the home front and I am sure that is also the case with you. Among the usual family hub bub that comes with summer fun, we just sent our son off to college.  Big change!  I hope that by sharing our experience, we can in some way inspire those embarking on this journey now or in the near future.  Parents who have already gone through this may enjoy recalling bitter sweet memories that came with their own son or daughter college send off.

We all knew that the day was drawing near when our son would begin the next chapter of his life – yes, without the rest of us.  We chose not to think about those final moments on the schedule to give families time to say good-bye. Instead, we kept busy and focused on picking up the last-minute items we thought he “might” need for his dorm room. The truth was he had everything he needed – we just wanted to keep busy. When down time kicked in, we would start talking about how the dinner table was going to feel different, how his sister was going to miss watching television on Saturday mornings snuggled on the sofa, how we might not cook pork and beans because he was the only one who liked it…and the list goes on.  The days passed and yes, it came – the pack up the car moment…the time when it all became really real…the page was turning, one story was ending and a new one – was beginning.

“Okay, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, family members, it is now time to give your son or daughter the biggest hug…wish them well” said Madam College President…huh? this is my son…my world…my life…didn’t I just buy him the Buzz and Andy figures yesterday…didn’t we just make Harry Potter wands out of twigs??

It was time – time for the send off words…I looked up at him and said, “Michael …go for your dreams…your happiness is all I care about…work hard, change lives…make friends …and remember your family …and without thinking…we all formed a family huddle…arms draped around each other in love…forming the one thing that time itself couldn’t change – the bond of our love as a family.

When I came up out of our circle – I was inspired beyond words by what I saw…countless families were connected in the same huddle…all in a wonderful embrace of love.  Tears…watery eyes everywhere..it was an incredible moment and one I will never forget.

Yes, Princess Diana is so right…FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD…and that inspired truth is forever changeless.